861.77 Chinese Eastern/473: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Neville)16
117. (1) I wish you to make an appointment with the Minister for Foreign Affairs at once and to say to him that, from the information which is available to the United States Government, it is evidently clear that serious hostilities, which approximate a condition of actual warfare, are proceeding between the armed forces of China and Russia in Manchuria and are accompanied by the occupation of territory and by numerous casualties.
(2) Both China and Russia, you will recall, have adhered to and ratified the Paris Pact renouncing war and covenanting to use pacific means to settle disputes and conflicts arising between them.
(3) The obligations which were thus solemnly assumed, you will further recall, were called last July to the attention of these two powers, [Page 351] just as the controversy which now involves them was beginning, and at that time both countries reaffirmed publicly their adherence to the Paris Pact’s obligations.
(4) You will state that the United States Government, being alarmed because of the serious extent to which both China and Russia have recently carried hostile acts, is decidedly of the opinion that a further development of the situation along lines which are so fraught with danger to everyone concerned should not be permitted without protest by those powers who sponsored the pact against its violation.
(5) To the Minister for Foreign Affairs you will read and leave in his possession a copy of the following statement:17
(6) “The Government and people of the United States have observed with apprehensive concern the course of events in relations between China and Russia in the phase which has developed in reference to the situation in Northern Manchuria since July 10.
On July 18 this Government took steps, through conversations between the Secretary of State and the diplomatic representatives at Washington of five Powers,18 to see that the attention of the Chinese and the Russian Governments be called to the provisions of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, to which both China and Russia were signatories. Both the Russian and Chinese governments then made formal and public assurances that neither would resort to war unless attacked. Since that time that Treaty has been ratified by no less than fifty-five Powers, including China and Russia.
The American Government desires again to call attention to the provisions of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, particularly to Article II, which reads, ‘The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise, among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means;’ and the American Government takes occasion to express its earnest hope that China and Russia will refrain from measures of hostility and will arrange in the near future to discuss between themselves the issues over which they are at present in controversy. The American Government feels that the respect with which China and Russia will hereafter be held in the good opinion of the world will necessarily in great measure depend upon the way in which they carry out these most sacred promises.”
(7) You will say to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that you have been instructed by me to ask him if his Government would be ready to make public a statement, along lines similar to those quoted above, but not necessarily in the same wording, on a date which will be fixed to coincide with this Government’s issuance of such a statement on an early date to be decided upon and to communicate it at the same time textually to the Chinese and Russian Governments.
[Page 352](8) You will say to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that, if he can give me his answer through you, I shall be grateful to receive it if possible by Thursday, November 28.19
(9) In conclusion you will say that identical communications are being made to France, Great Britain, and Italy, and you will ask that confidential treatment be given the matter pending a decision being reached with regard to action which may be possible.
(10) You may add that this Government hopes that each government, in publishing such a statement as I have proposed above, will take appropriate steps to convey its hope to the other powers, which are parties to the Paris Pact, that they will be associated with France, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan in deprecating any violation, impending or actual, of the Paris Pact obligations. You may say that the United States Government urges this action so that the protest represents the widest possible signatory group and thereby the broadest possible world opinion.
- The same, mutatis mutandis, on November 26 to the diplomatic representatives in France (No. 384), Great Britain (No. 314), and Italy (No. 73); and, on November 27, to the diplomatic representative in Germany (No. 90).↩
- Quotation not paraphrased.↩
- See telegram No. 237, July 19, to the Minister in China, p. 215.↩
- In telegram No. 118, November 26, 1929, 4 p.m., the Secretary of State informed the Chargé in Japan that in Japan’s case the date should be “Friday, November 29” (861.77 Chinese Eastern/476).↩